SCOTTISH FISHERY PROTECTION CRUISERS

In the early 1800’s, The Commissioners of The British White Herring Fishery were appointed and given powers to detail naval vessels to superintend the herring fisheries, responsibility for protecting Scottish waters and inspecting landed catches being then given to The Fishery Board for Scotland in 1882.

By 1909, 'The Board's' fleet included five steam vessels, the fleet, including two small motor boats, increasing to eight by the outbreak of World War II, in 1939, when 'The Board's' responsibilities were transferred to The Secretary of State for Scotland.

In April 1991, The Secretary of State for Scotland established the fisheries protection and enforcement services as an executive agency as part of the Government’s 'Next Steps Initiative', which sought to devolve specific activities from central Government to free-standing organisations, headed by chief executives accountable to government ministers and thus The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, with 230 staff, 20 coastal offices, 6 protection vessels and 2 surveillance aircraft, was established as an executive agency of The Scottish Office.

Following devolution in Scotland, 'The Agency' was transferred to the control of The Scottish Executive's Environment and Rural Affairs Department and today, in 2009, responsible for both deterring illegal fishing in Scottish waters, as well as monitoring the compliance of the fisheries industry in Scotland with the relevant Scottish and European Union laws on fisheries, 'The Agency' has 18 Fishery Offices, a fleet of four fishery protection vessels, the Norna, Minna, Jura and Hirta and two chartered aircraft for patrol duties.

The letters "SF" appearing in the Agency's ensign relate to the words "Sea Fisheries" as the agency is part of the U.K. Sea Fisheries Inspectorate (SFI).

From the early days, officers of the fishery were appointed with particular emphasis on the certification of cured herring for export and for making the necessary 'brand' on the barrel, experience as a cooper, a maker of barrels, would remain a qualification for all fishery officers until as recently as 1939.

The main tasks for the fishery officers is to ensure the integrity of the quota management system and to enforce the regulations on stock recovery programmes etc. which is accomplished by inspections of catches in ports on board vessels, in fish markets and on landing for direct sale; weighing of whitefish catches as required by E.U. legislation, with catches sample weighed at the point of landing, on fish markets and at merchants’ premises; enforcing the timeous submission of logsheets and landing declarations in compliance with E.U. and U.K. legislation and in the submission of salesnotes and buyers notes, in compliance with the legislation on the registration of sellers and buyers of sea fish; ensuring catches are accurately recorded against quota and that buyers and sellers are complying with the regulations; carrying out post landing investigations in cases

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where there is reason to suspect that catches were not accurately declared at the time of landing and sale; carrying out audit checks on registered buyers under protocols with The Marine Directorate and enforcing pelagic fisheries regulations by means of tank-dipping prior to landing, or verifying the weights of catches as they are landed through the approved and certified weighing systems.

The Scottish fishery protection vessels are unarmed and are not military ships, their responsibility being to inspect fishing vessels at sea in Scottish waters and to inspect Scottish vessels in the waters of other E.U. member states.

The Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 is a statutory instrument of The Parliament of the United Kingdom, defining "the boundaries between waters which are to be treated as internal waters or territorial sea of The United Kingdom adjacent to Scotland and those which are not". The Order was introduced in accordance with The Scotland Act 1998, which established the devolved Scottish Parliament.

The territorial waters thus defined as 'Scottish waters' come under the jurisdiction of Scots law and are also used for defining the area of operation of The Marine Scotland, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency and other Scottish Executive agencies and public bodies.

This is, for example, of importance to the Scottish fishing industry, The North Sea oil industry and in the competing claims for the resources of The Rockall Trough, Rockall itself placed 'administratively' in what was then 'Inverness-shire' on February 10, 1972 under The Island of Rockall Act, 1972, "An Act to make provision for the incorporation of that part of Her Majesty's Dominions known as the Island of Rockall into that part of The United Kingdom known as Scotland and for purposes connected therewith".

The territorial waters thus defined as not being Scottish waters come under the jurisdiction of either English law or Northern Ireland law. Therefore, because it defines the territorial limits of the three separate legal states, it comprises a piece of constitutional law in the constitution of The United Kingdom.

The first vessel that The Fishery Board for Scotland took over was a former Royal Navy sailing cutter, the 95-foot long Vigilant (I), which had a breadth of 23-feet, was sold off, after twelve years in the service, in 1894.

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The second ship to be acquired, especially for fishery research duties, was the GARLAND - built of iron in 1880 by Robert Chambers & Co, Dumbarton for J. W. Woodall of Scarborough, was acquired by The Fishery Board for Scotland in 1886 - Official No : 77355 and of 61 gross rregistered tons (grt), 36 net registerd tons (nrt), she measured 85 x 15 x 9 feet - Her 2-cylinder, 14 horsepower, compound steam engine, constructed by Plenty & Son of Newbury, gave her a service speed of 8½ knots.

Sold off in 1902, she was re-named the AEROLITE and, in 1925, she was fitted with a 60 bhp, 4-cylinder oil engine, supplied by The Bergius Co Ltd of Glasgow and, re-sold on a number of occasions in the following years, she was eventually converted into a houseboat in London, in 1953.

Built of iron by Ramage & Ferguson of Leith in 1886, for Lord Alfred Paget of London, as the VIOLET, her Official No : 91905 and of 134 grt and 44 nrt, this 105 x 20 x 9 feet yacht was powered by a 240 ihp, 2-cylinder compound steam engine giving her a speed of 11½ knots.

In 1888 she was sold to French owners and renamed VIOLETTE and then, sold again in 1893, she was again re-named as VIOLET. Sold yet again in 1894, she was acquired by The Fishery Board for Scotland in 1897 and re-named VIGILANT (II) - In 1914 she was requisitioned by The Royal Navy for service as an examination vessel and continued in that work until 1919 when she resumed service with 'The Board', the former yacht remaining in the fishery protection service until being sold for breaking up in 1936.

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The first purpose-built ship for fishery protection duties was the 1898-built BRENDA (I), she named after Brenda, the daughter of Magnus Troil, the Chief Laird of the Shetlands in bygone days, 'Brenda' also appearing in Sir Walter Scott’s novel "The Pirate".

Of 174 grt, 12 nrt, she was built by J Reid & Co Ltd of Glasgow and measured 125 x 21 x 10 feet and had a 3-cylinder, 750 ihp triple expansion engine, constructed by Hall-Brown Buttery & Co, Glasgow, which gave her a speed of 12½ knots.

Requisitioned by The Royal Navy for service as an examination vessel in 1914, she returned briefly to fishery protection duties in 1919 but had to be withdrawn from service for the installation of a new boiler in 1920, a task that saw her out of service for a full year.

In 1939 she was again requisitioned by The Royal Navy and served as an examination vessel in The Firth of Forth until returning to fishery protection work in 1946. She was withdrawn from service and broken up in 1951.

In 1898 too, 'The Board' ordered the NORNA (I), named after Norna, The Witch of Fitful Head in Shetland, 'Norna' too appearing in Sir Walter Scott’s novel "The Pirate"

This 30 grt, 7 nrt, 65 x 12 x 7 feet, wooden, steam launch, official number 114229, was powered by 250 ihp, 2-cylinder compound engine which gave her a speed of 11½ knots, both the hull and the machinery being built by Lobnitz & Co Ltd of Renfrew.

In 1904 the vessel was sold to owners in The Western Islands for service as a fishing boat and, sold on again on a number of occasions, her last known recorded sale seems to have been to German owners in 1913.

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In 1900, Two years after the building of the Brenda (I) and the Norna (I) and continuing the naming tradition, 'The Board' ordered the 281 grt, 51 nrt MINNA (I), 'Minna' another daughter of Magnus Troil, the Chief Laird of the Shetlands in bygone days and too appearing in Sir Walter Scott’s novel "The Pirate".

Built by Murdock & Murray of Port Glasgow and measuring 147 x 24 x 12 feet, she was given a 770 ihp, 3-cylinder triple expansion engine, built by Lees, Anderson & Co. of Glasgow and achieved a trial speed of 12¼ knots.

In 1914 she too was requisitioned by The Royal Navy for service as an examination vessel and returned to her peacetime duties in 1919 and, in 1924, she became the first vessel in the fleet to be fitted with radio telephone equipment - Withdrawn from service in 1939, she was sold to James Lamont & Co Ltd. and broken up by Smith & Houston Ltd at Port Glasgow.

Again the naming tradition continued with Hall, Russell & Co Ltd of Aberdeen's 1904-built FREYA (I), she named after Freya the goddess of love and marriage in Norse mythology, of 280 grt and 60 nrt and measuring 138 x 24 x 13 feet, she was given a 700 ihp 3-cylinder triple expansion engine and made 12½ knots on trial.

Like the Minna (I), she too was requisitioned by The Royal Navy for service as an examination vessel and returned to her peacetime duties in 1919 and from 1939 to 1946 again served as an examination vessel in The Firth of Forth - Withdrawn from service and laid up in 1954, she was broken up by Smith & Houston Ltd in Port Glasgow in 1955.

Built in 1900 by J Duthie Sons & Co of Aberdeen for EMW North of Grimsby, GOLDSEEKER (I) Official No 113168, of 206 grt and 75 nrt and measuring 117 x 22 x 12 feet, had been given a 350 ihp, 3-cylinder triple expansion engine, built by S & H Morton & Co of Leith and made 13 knots on trial.Acquired by 'The Board' as a research vessel in 1906, she was requisitioned by The Royal Navy for service as an examination vessel in 1914 and returned to service with the Board in 1919.

In 1922 she was sold to The Belfast Harbour Commissioners as a pilot vessel and in 1924 she was re-named EDITH WILLIAMS. In 1947 she was sold to John Lee of Belfast for breaking up.

The 1909-built NORNA (II) / NORNA II served in the fleet till 1960 as patrol vessel - Of 457 grt and 171 nrt, she measured 150 x 25 x 13 feet - More powerful than her 'sisters', she had an 1,150 ihp, 3-cylinder triple expansion, engine built, like her hull, by Dundee's Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd. and could steam at 13½ knots.

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Again, like her 'sisters', she served as an examination vessel in both both wars and was in The Firth of Forth in WWII and, to release the original name for a new fishery protection vessel in 1959, was re-named NORNA II She was broken up in Troon by The West of Scotland Shipbreaking Co Ltd. in 1960.

Built in 1918 by Cochrane & Sons Ltd. of Selby for The Royal Navy as a 'Mersey-class' trawler, the JOHN FELTON was never commissioned and, acquired by 'The Board' in 1921 for service as a research vessel, was commissioned as the EXPLORER (I), in 1922 - Measuring 139 x 24 x 13 feet and of 351 grt and 146 nrt, she had a 560 ihp, 3-cylinder, triple expansion engine, supplied by C D Holmes & Co Ltd. of Hull, giving her a speed of just 9 knots.

In 1939 she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy as an examination vessel in The Firth of Forth before returning to fishery research duties in 1946 and then, in 1955, she was withdrawn from service and broken up.

Although seemingly nothing to do with 'fishery protection' per se, 'The Board' purchased the steam bucket dredger DRAGON (I), Official No 95460 in 1920 - Of 291 grt and 192 nrt and measuring 120 x 28 x 11 feet, the dredger, built by Wm Simmons & Co. of Renfrew in 1904, had had a number of different owners over the years - Her 2-cylinder compound engine, of just 300 ihp, gave her a speed of 6½ knots and she remained in service with 'The Board' until 1939 when she was broken up.

Purchased for fishery research duties in 1922, the ENID, a wooden motor fishing vessel, built some time prior to 1914, was sold off in 1935 but no further details of her are known or seemingly remembered.

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The next acquisition, in 1924, was a seemingly 1917-built, ex-Admiralty, twin-screw, 500 bhp petrol-engined, 'Coastal Motor Boat' (CMB), her former number unrecorded, a single-step hydroplane, the 19 grt RONA (I), she measuring 55 x 11 feet and named after the island of that name, which lies some 11½ miles north east of Portree on the island of Skye - Built by J. I. Thornycroft & Co Ltd. of London and able to do around 20 knots, she was employed as a fast patrol vessel until being sold off to unknown buyers in 1933.

During World War 1 of 1914 - 1918, following a suggestion from three officers of the Harwich destroyer force that small motor boats carrying a torpedo might be capable of traveling over the protective minefields and attacking ships of the German Navy at anchor in their bases, The Admiralty gave tentative approval to the idea and, in the summer of 1915, produced a 'Staff Requirement' for a boat which, complete with an 18 inch torpedo, should not exceed the weight of the 30 foot motor boat then carried in the davits of a light cruiser, namely 4.5 tons.

The speed of the boat when fully loaded, was to be at least 30 knots and sufficient fuel was to be carried to give a considerable radius of action - Several companies were approached but only one, John I Thornycroft & Co Ltd, considered it possible to meet such a requirement.

In January 1916 after producing, in association with The Admiralty, a suitable design, Thornycroft received orders for twelve boats, the last of which was completed in August 1916.

The restriction on weight meant that the torpedo had to be carried and fired by unconventional means. Instead of using a heavy torpedo tube and firing the torpedo by compressed air or a cordite charge, the torpedo was carried on rails in a trough, built into the after part of the boat's hull and fired backwards, tail first, by means of a long steel ram, operated by a cordite cartridge.

As the 1914 - 1918 war continued, further CMBs were ordered, including, in April 1917, some 55-foot boats which, powered by two engines and displacing about 11 tons, were capable of carrying two 18 inch torpedoes in a trough aft, the RONA (I) being one of these latter-built boats.

Too in 1924 and in complete contrast to the style of the Thornycroft boat, came the VAILA (I), named after the island at the mouth of Vaila Sound, 15 miles north-west of Lerwick.

Of 28 grt and measuring 55 x 12 x 6 feet, patrol launch built by Hugh Maclean & Son of Govan and given triple engines, two petrol and one paraffin, totalling 301 bhp and capable of around 13 knots - Requisitioned by The Ministry of War Transport in 1940, she was sold off in 1943 and, some time around 1945, she was sold to private owners for service as a houseboat at Leith, no further details of her are known.

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Then, in 1929, came another steam grab dredger, the SANDCHIME (I), Official No 161251, named after a species of seabird found on Scottish shores.

Measuring 141 grt and 49 nrt, her dimensions 94 x 23 x 7 feet, built for 'The Board' in the Netherlands town of Zaltbommel by the J. Mayer’s Shipbuilding Co., the town of Zaltbommel being of course the birth-place of Gerard Philips (1858 - 1942), industrialist and founder of today's giant Philips Electronics company and, though 'foreign-built', it was Glasgow's McKie & Baxter Ltd. who supplied the ship's 18 hp 2-cylinder, compound, engine.

Sold to Londonderry's Port & Harbour Commissioners in 1952, she was re-named ABERFOYLE and, in 1975, she was broken up at Londonderry by James Corry.

Built in 1935 by Wm Denny & Bros Ltd. of Dumbarton for fishery protection duties, the 209 grt, 44 nrt VIGILANT (III) / VIGILANT II, measuring 135 x 23 x 8 feet, had twin 8-cylinder Sulzer oil engines of 750 bhp, these built by Armstrong Whitworth & Co (Engineers) Ltd. of Newcastle and driving her at speeds up to 14 knots.

In 1939 she was requisitioned by The Royal Navy for service as an examination vessel in The Firth of Clyde and in 1941 she was reallocated as an accommodation ship to the Campbeltown's Rescue Tug Base, she re-named IXION in 1943. The following year, 1944, she was reallocated to Larne for target towing duties and then sent as a reserve vessel to Portsmouth, she finally being sent to The Nore Command for special service and then was returned to 'The Board' in 1946, she resuming her peacetime fishery protection duties again as the VIGILANT in 1947.

Given two new 810 bhp 6-cyclinder Lister Blackstone Mirrlees diesels in 1971, her speed capability increased to 14½ knots - In 1980 she was re-named VIGILANT II in order to release the original name for a new vessel and then, in 1983, she was sold out of the service to Sheridan Trading Incorporated SA of Panama and again re-named VIGILANT.

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Built in 1936 by J. N. Miller & Sons of St Monance for fishery patrol duties, the 54 x 14 x 9 foot FIDRA / FIDRA II, a wooden-hulled motor fishing vessel, named after the island in The Firth of Forth, 2½ miles north-west of North Berwick - Her Official No 303104 and tonnage 32 grt, 12 nrt, she had a 240 bhp Gleniffer engine to give her a speed of 10½ knots.

In 1939 she was requisitioned by The Royal Navy as tender to The Forth Boom Defence and resumed service with 'The Board' in 1946 - Re-named FIDRA II in 1956, she was sold in 1971 to a V. S. Harvey of Essex and then sold again on a number of occasions in subsequent years, no further details of her are known.

Too in 1936 came another wooden-hulled motor fishing vessel, she for research duties, the KATHLEEN, 39 grt, 19 nrt and measuring 55 x 16 x 8 feet, built by Herd & Mackenzie of Findochty and given a 6-cylinder, 60 bhp, Gleniffer engine, giving her a top speed of 8 knots - Like the FIDRA / FIDRA II, she was requisitioned by The Royal Navy in 1940 and, re-named MILDRED, served as tender to The Forth Boom Defence before resuming service with 'The Board' in 1946 - She was sold out of service in 1958 and no further details are known.

The RONA (II), Official No 303451, tonnage 151 grt, 29 nrt and of 110 x 21 x 10 feet, was built in 1938 by Wm Denny & Bros Ltd, Dumbarton for fishery patrol duties - With two 7-cylinder oil engines of 440 bhp, supplied by British Auxiliaries Ltd. of Glasgow, she had a speed of 12½ knots.

Between 1939 and 1946, she served as an examination vessel in The Firth of Clyde and then resumed service with 'The Board' until sold in 1971 to Hutton & Co (Ship & Chandlers) Ltd. of Hull for oil rig service at Lowestoft - She was sold again in 1972 but no further details are known.

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The MINNA (II), Official No 303092, tonnage 304 grt and 71 nrt and measuring 165 x 25 x 9 feet, was completed in 1939, just before the war, by Wm. Denny & Bros Ltd. of Dumbarton for fishery patrol service but, in the same year, was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for Special Duties.

Fitted with twin 6-cylinder oil engines of 600 bhp from British Auxiliaries Ltd. of Glasgow, she achieved 15½ knots on trial.

Resumed service with 'The Board' in 1945 and returned to fishery patrol duties in 1946, she was sold to Ocean Observer Ltd in 1974 for oil exploration surveys in North Sea and re-named OCEAN OBSERVER and then, in 1978, she was towed from Fleetwood to Blyth for breaking up by Shipbreakers & Repairers Ltd.

In 1939 too, 'The Board' took delviery of another steam bucket dredger, the DRAGON (II), her Official No 303093 and she of 332 grt and 124 nrt and measuring 123 x 29 x 11 feet..

Built and engined by Ferguson Bros (Port Glasgow) Ltd., she was fitted with a 3-cylinder, 370 ihp, triple expansion engine.

In 1968, she was sold in 1968 to Vancourt Trading Ltd. of Guernsey and was wrecked during heavy weather off northern Spain, near San Esteban de Pravia, whilst under tow in 1976.

In 1946, whilst their own war-requisitioned ships were being reconditioned, 'The Board' was loaned two Royal Navy Fairmile 'B' motor launches, ML 587 and ML 588, these of 73 tons displacement and measuring 112 x 18 x 4 feet, their twin 1,200 bhp petrol engines giving them service speeds of 20 knots - Both launches were returned to The Royal Navy in 1947 and both subsequently sold as houseboats.

ML 587, built in 1943 by Johnson & Jago of Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, sold as a houseboat being renamed LA CONTENTA. and ML 588, built in 1943 by Jas. Taylor of Chertsey too sold as a houseboat, being named MARY LOU.

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Built in 1944 by Cochrane & Sons Ltd. of Selby, the 'Isles-class' Royal Navy trawler LONGA, named after an island at the mouth of Gairloch, in The Western Highlands, was acquired by 'The Board' in 1946 for patrol duties - Of 462 grt and 128 nrt, 150 x 28 x 13 feet, she had an 850 ihp, 3-cylinder, triple expansion engine constructed by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd. of Hull and a speed of 10 knots.

One of the last coal burning ships in the U.K., she remained on fishery protection duties until 1973 and was then withdrawn from service and broken up by Thos. W. Ward Ltd at Inverkeithing.

An ex-Royal Navy 'MFV', MFV 1195, was acquired by 'The Board' for research purposes in 1947 and commissioned and named CLUPEA (I) / CLUPEA II, after a species of fish found in Scottish waters, in 1948.

MFV 1195 had been built in 1945 by Walter Reekie & Co. of St Monance, Official No 303100, a tonnage of 76 grt and 26 nrt and measuring 69 x 20 x 10 feet, her 160 bhp Lister Blackstone oil engine giving her a speed of 8½ knots.

In 1968 she was re-named CLUPEA II, to release the original name for a new vessel and in that same year she was withdrawn from service and laid-up - She was sold to R. P. G. Nunan of Andover in 1969, was reported to be in Jersey and then sold again in 1973. No further details are known.

Built in 1940 by Cochrane & Sons Ltd. of Selby for The Royal Navy as a 'Shakespearian-class' trawler, the FLUELLEN, the SCOTIA (I) (The Roman name for Scotland) / SCARBA (The Inner Hebrides island lying 1½ miles north of Jura), her Official No 303097, tonnage 492 grt and 138 nrt and measuring 150 x 28 x 13 feet, had an Amos &

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Smith Ltd. of Hartlepool-built 950 ihp, 3-cylinder, triple expansion engine giving her a speed of 12 knots.

Acquired by 'The Board' in 1947, she was commissioned as a research vessel in the following year and re-named SCOTIA. In 1972 she was transferred to patrol duties and re-named SCARBA and in 1973 she was withdrawn from service, laid-up and, later that year, broken up at Dalmuir by W. H. Arnott Young & Co (Shipbreakers) Ltd.

The ACACIA, a Royal Navy 'Tree-class' trawler of 462 grt and 128 nrt, measuring 150 x 28 x 13 feet and built in 1940 by Ardrossan Dockyard Co. Ltd., was acquired by 'The Board' for patrol duties in 1947 and in the following year she was commissioned and re-named VAILA (II) - In 1957 she ran ashore off the mouth of Loch Shell, Lewis, Outer Hebrides with the loss of 5 lives.

BRENDA (II) was built in 1951 by Wm Denny & Bros Ltd. of Dumbarton and used in fishery protection duties until 1982, when she was sold to Sociedad Naviera Lanaxa SA of Panama and renamed BRENDA S for service as a yacht.

Official No 300625, tonnage 350 grt and 102 nrt, dimensions 179 x 26 x 10 feet - Two oil engines, each 7-cylinder, constructed by British Polar Engines Ltd. of Glasgow, 1,400 bhp, maximum speed 16 knots. Built in 1953 by W Simons & Co. Ltd. of Renfrew and used in dredging duties until 1972, the steam grab dredger SANDCHIME (II) Official No 303091, of 190 grt and 61 nrt and measuring 105 x 25 x 9 feet, had a 243 ihp 3-cylinder triple expansion engine constructed by her builders - She was sold to Pounds Marine Shipping Ltd. of Portsmouth and then re-sold on a number of occasions in subsequent years. No further details known.

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Similar to the 1951-built BRENDA, but smaller and also built, in 1954, by Wm Denny & Bros. Ltd. of Dumbarton, the 274 grt and 58 nrt FREYA (II), measuring 145 x 24 x 11 feet, was fitted with two, 'Sulzer-type', 500 bhp oil engines, these constructed by British Polar Engines Ltd. of Glasgow and giving her a speed of 14½ knots.

In 1959 she capsized in heavy seas off Sarclet Head, 4 miles south of Wick, with the loss of three lives.

Yard No 747 was laid down at Alexander Hall & Co. Ltd. of Aberdeen's yard in 1955 as a Greenland trawler and then acquired as a fishery research vessel for 'The Board'.

Launched on June 21, 1955 by Lady Rachel Stuart, wife of The Secretary of State for Scotland, EXPLORER (II), Official No 303098, of 862 grt and 225 nrt, she was used on research duties until 1984 when she was laid up at Leith in the care of The Explorer Preservation Society - She was the last steam-ship completed by the Aberdeen shipbuilding firm of Alexander Hall & Co. Ltd. and her 1,000 i.h.p. triple expansion main steam engine too being the last engine built in Aberdeen.

Length Overall = 202 feet; Length Between Perpendiculars = 183 feet 6 inches; Beam 32 feet 9inches; Loaded Draft forward = 10 feet 11 inches; aft = 16 feet 7inches; Tonnage Gross = 862; Net = 225; Deadweight = 471 Tonnes and her Lightship Displacement = 915 tons.

Her engine, built in 1955 by Alexander Hall, is Number 462; a triple expansion, 3-cylinder of 16.5" + 28.5" +47" x 30" and of 1,000 Indicated Horse Power - Piston Valves on HP cylinder, Slide Valves on IP & LP cylinders, HP cylinder crosshead driven Boiler Feed and two Bilge Pumps, her 4-bladed propeller 10-feet 8 inches x 11 feet 3 inches and her speed 12knots - Range 8,000miles (approx) - Bunker Capacity - 267 tons fuel oil; 34 tons diesel oil and fresh water storage = 113 tons.

She was the first ship of her kind to carry a computer, it fully occupied a substantial cabin and, in addition to about 30 other cabins and three laboratories, the ship also housed a luxurious officer's saloon, it complete with a fire place !

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The ULVA, named after an island in The Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Mull, like the LONGA, was built as a Royal Navy 'Isles-class' trawler - Named the ANNET, she was built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd. of Beverley in 1943 - Her Official No 303455, tonnage 494 grt and 124 nrt and measuring 150 x 28 x 14 feet - Too, like the LONGA, she had an 850 ihp, 3-cylinder, triple expansion engine constructed by C. D. Holmes & Co Ltd. of Hull and a speed of 10 knots.

In 1946, re-classed as a Wreck Dispersal Vessel, she had been re-named DV 2 and in 1958 she was acquired by 'The Board' and ULVA, to replace the ill-fated VAILA - She was employed on fishery protection duties until she was withdrawn from service in 1971 and was broken up at Dalmuir, Glasgow by W H Arnott, Young & Co (Shipbreakers) Ltd. in 1972.

Built in 1958 by J N Miller & Sons of St Monance, the wooden motor fishing vessel MARA, named after a species of fish found in Scottish waters, was used on fishery research duties until 1980 when she was withdrawn from service, she sold to a T. F. Lewis and P. A. Cargill and no further details of her later career known.

Her Official No 303461, tonnage 79 grt and 18 nrt and she measuring 73 x 20 x 9 feet, she was fitted with a 6-cylinder 240 bhp Ruston & Hornsby oil engine and had a speed of 9½ knots.

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The NORNA (III) Official No 303109, tonnage 580 grt and 117 nrt, measuring 195 x 28 x 9 feet, a twin-screw motor patrol vessel powered by two 800 bhp, 8-cylinder British Polar Engines giving her a speed of 16 knots was built in 1959 by Wm Denny & Bros. Ltd. of Dumbarton and was in service until 1987 when she was sold to a holding company and renamed TORRINGTON.

She was then sold to a Norwegian owner who converted her to a small cruise ship named ISPRINSEN and, after a while operating around the Spitzbergen area, was sold on to Egyptian owners who re-named her DIVERSITY and ran diving cruises in The Red Sea, the last heard of her was that she was under arrest in Eritrea.

A 50 x 17 x 10 feet motor fishing vessel for research purposes, the GOLDSEEKER (II), built in 1966 by James Noble of Fraserburgh and commissioned in 1967, she remained in service until 1993 until sold and was last heard of working as a dive support boat.

Her Official No 300625 and tonnage 39 grt and 14 nrt, she had a 110 hp, 6-cylinder, Gardner oil engine and a speed of 7 knots.

Built in 1968 by Hall, Russell & Co. Ltd. of Aberdeen, the 106 x 26 x 14 feet CLUPEA (II) Official No 335167, tonnage 176 grt and 85 nrt, had a 660 bhp, 8-cylinder Blackstone oil engine which, coupled to a controllable pitch propeller, could drive her at 11¾ knots - Management of the vessel was passed to private operators in 1991.

Powered by twin 6-cylinder, 360 bhp Bergius-Kelvin oil engines, the SHEARWATER, named after a species of seabird found on Scottish shores, a motor trailer suction dredger, could manage 9 knots - Official No 335164, tonnage 342 grt and 124 nrt and measuring 119 x 30 x 9 feet, she was built in 1968 by Hall, Russell & Co. Ltd. of Aberdeen

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and used on dredging duties until 1979 when she was sold to Grampian District Council in Aberdeen and is still in service.

Built in 1948 by Cochrane & Sons Ltd. of Selby for The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Grimsby as the research vessel EARNEST HOLT, the 573 grt, 122 nrt, 178 x 30 x 15 feet SWITHA, Official No 182627 and named after an island in Scapa Flow was acquired for fishery patrol duties in 1971 - With her 900 ihp, triple expansion, 3-cylinder engine, built by Amos & Smith Ltd. of Hull, her maximum speed was 12 knots - In January 1980, whilst inbound for Leith, she ran ashore on a reef south east of Inchkeith in The Firth of Forth. Fortunately there were no casualties and the crew were rescued by helicopter. Salvage was found not to be possible and so the vessel was blown open by The Royal Navy to allow fuel oil to be recovered.

Driven by three British Polar 8-cylinder oil engines connected to three generators and with 3,600 bhp and a directional propeller, SCOTIA (II), Official No 340211, of 1,521 grt and 376 nrt and measuring 224 x 44 x 15 feet, built in 1971 by Ferguson Bros (Port Glasgow) 1969 Ltd., could make 14 knots and in 1972 she was employed for two months in Icelandic waters as a support ship to the British trawling fleet during "The Cod War". It is understood that management of the vessel was passed to private operators in 1991.

Island Class of Fishery Protection Cruisers

The Island type were offshore patrol vessels with a displacement of 1,017 tonnes and a maximum speed of 16.5 knots. In contrast to the more modern vessel types, the Island type could only remain on patrol for 16 to 18 days.

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The JURA, named after the island in The Inner Hebrides, Official No 359349, tonnage 892 grt and 196 nrt and measuring 195 x 36 x 14 feet had two 12-cylinder British Polar oil engines and with a variable pitch propeller and, with 4,200 bhp at her disposal, had a speed of 12½ - 16½ knots.

Built in 1973 by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd. of Aberdeen, she was loaned to The Royal Navy for serviceability tests in 1975 but resumed her fishery protection duties in 1977. Withdrawn from service in 1988, she was sold to Marrs of Hull and renamed Criscilla.

The WESTRA, Official No 364090, a sister-ship of the JURA and also built, in 1975, by Hall, Russell and given identical machinery, though her tonnage was slightly different, she being 885 grt and 202 nrt, remained on fishery protection duties until 2003 when she was withdrawn from service and then, in 2005, sold to the conservation organisation Sea Shepherd and renamed ROBERT HUNTER, after one of the founding members of Greenpeace - The vessel has since been renamed STEVE IRWIN.

Sulisker Class of Fishery Protection Cruisers

The older Sulisker type are offshore patrol vessels with a displacement of 1,365 tonnes and a maximum speed of 18 knots and can spend up to 21 days on patrol. The only ship of this type currently in service is Norna which was launched in 1987.

The first of the type, Sulisker was launched in 1980, decommissioned late 2005 and was sold off for conversion to a luxury yacht in Lowestoft. Vigilant (IV), launched in 1982, was decommissioned in the spring of 2008.

Her Official No 387796, the SULISKER, named after a rocky islet in The Outer Hebrides, 39 miles north-west of The Butt of Lewis, measured 234 x 38 x 15 feet and was of 1,250 grt and 275 nrt.

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A twin-screw motor patrol vessel, she had two 12-cylinder Ruston Diesel engines and, with 5,720 bhp and variable pitch propellers, could manage between 14 and 18 knots.

Built in 1981 by Ferguson Bros (Port Glasgow) Ltd., she remained in service until 2005 when she was withdrawn from service and sold to Buccaneer Yachts for conversion to a luxury yacht for cruising in The Mediterranean and Caribbean.

SULISKER, as built

Of SULISKER's conversion to a yacht, an undated edition of 'Boat International' reports, "An exciting project to convert the 74m Scottish fishery protection vessel Sulisker into a luxury cruising ship for The Whistlejacket Club has commenced at Lowestoft in the U.K.. The work will be carried out by Brooke Marine Yachts, which has been brought back into existence for this purpose. The SOLAS rule ship will carry 26 passengers in 13 top-class cabins and is scheduled for completion before the end of 2009.

"The Whistlejacket Club is a concept created by Michael Fenton, former managing director of Hebridean Island Cruises and Nick Edmiston and is based on member ownership. Their original ambitious plan for a brand-new 130m ship has been put on hold while the more realisable Sulisker conversion goes ahead. Members will pay a refundable 'key' entry fee to become joint owners of the ship plus an annual subscription entitling them to 10 nights' use of a double cabin. Cruising will take place in The Mediterranean and Caribbean and, for certain periods each year, Sulisker will be available for charter to non-members, with profits returned to the club.

"Built in 1981 to a very high specification by Fergusons of (Port)Glasgow for The Scottish Fisheries Protection Authority, Sulisker was certainly a lucky find for The Whistlejacket Club as she is a good-looking ship which has been maintained to the highest standards. Her original equipment includes a pair of 2,072 kw Ruston main engines driving varriable pitch propellors, which pushed her to a speed of 18 knots on trials. In addition to Rolls Royce / Brown Brothers active fin stabilisers, she has three Paxman generators of 200 kw each and a powerful bow thruster. Heavily built in steel, she is reinforced with extra

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framing forward as she was expected to make full speed in any sea state when pursuing illegal fishing vessels.

Re-modelled stern to provide water access

"Naval architects McFarlane Shipdesign of Monaco have re-modelled the stern to provide water access and installed a swimming pool with a current and a waterfall effect at the aft end. The original upperworks have been replaced by a new aluminium three-deck superstructure that creates a real superyacht appearance. The issue that faces all conversions, whether to fair the hull to eliminate the 'starving dog' appearance that results from years of battering by the sea, has been addressed by specifying Fagerdala foam / GRP fairing system. Although this was conceived several years ago, it has only recently been brought to the market and Brooke Marine, who is the sole U.K. agent, believes it offers a much superior result to labourious and costly fairing with filler with significant additional advantages of heat and sound insulation together with reduced maintenance costs.

"All of the guest cabins and saloons will be on the main and upper deck, including a 75-metre square full-width master cabin, which can be divided into two regular cabins. The main rooms have been designed by Bannenberg with McFarlane taking care of the guest cabins, corridors, crew areas and working spaces. Including the tank and machinery deck and the open-topped sundeck, there are six decks giving tremendous volume, although the draft of 4.8 m could prove a restriction in some areas. Except for a spa / gymnasium right aft, the whole of Deck 2 will be devoted to crew accommodation and working areas. The main saloon will be on Deck 3 and the inside / outside dining room on Deck 4, while the bridge deck, Deck 5, will provide a bar / deck saloon and library. A dumb-waiter will connect the galley with the other accommodation decks.

"The core team that is managing the rebuild of Sulisker includes several people who have been involved in yacht rebuilds as well as the Hebridean Princess and Hebridean Spirit conversions and are very experienced in working to SOLAS requirements. Although Sulisker will absorb their enery for approximately two years, Michael Fenton hopes to establish a long-term refit facility at Lowestoft under the Brooke Marine banner. It will not use the original Brooke Marine shipyard, which is under threat of redevelopment, but has rented space alongside the commercial repair yard of Small & Co., operators of an 80-metre long dry dock which, by happy coincidence, is just big enough to accommodate Sulisker.

"Michael Fenton has an option to buy the two remaining ships of the Sulisker class (the Norna, she built in Lowestoft and the Vigilant) when they are decommissioned. For a town which once boasted three shipbuilding yards and recently saw the last one close, this offers a chance to revive the region's strong shipbuilding tradition".

VIGILANT (IV), a sister-ship of SULISKER, built in 1982 and decommissioned in the spring of 2008.

Norna (IV) was built by Richards Shipbuilders, Lowestoft and was launched in 1987. She is 72 metres in length and has a gross tonnage of 1,385. She has a crew of 16, a top speed of 18 knots and is used mainly for offshore enforcement tasks.

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MORVENThe triple-screw fast patrol launches MORVEN Official No 398725 and the MOIDART Official No 398726 (photograph below), both named after land areas on The Western Highlands seaboard, were built in 1983 by Cheverton Workboats Ltd. of Cowes - Of 70 grt and 28 nrt and 65 x 19 x 5 feet and fitted with three 8-cylinder General Motors oil engines, the 1530 bhp power units giving them a maximum speed of 24 knots or, for economy, the outer engines producing 17 knots and the centre engine running alone producing 11 knots.

Whilst MORVEN remained in service until 2001 and was sold on for use as a survey vessel, MOIDART remained in service till 2003, but nothing of her thereafter on record.

MOIDART

Minna Class of Fishery Protection Cruisers

The Minna type are inshore/offshore patrol vessels with a displacement of 781 tonnes and a maximum speed of 14 knots, able to spend up to 21 days on patrol.

Minna (III) was built at Ferguson’s Shipyard Port Glasgow and, launched in 2003, is the third FPV to bear the name, that of a character in Sir Walter Scott's novel 'The Pirate'. Previous vessels of this name served between 1901 - 1939 and 1939 - 1974.

She is 42 metres in length, has a gross tonnage of 781, a crew of 15, a top speed of 14 knots and is used mainly for inshore enforcement tasks.

Currently there is only one vessel of this type, the Minna herself. In May 2006, the vessel replacement programme was delayed, when the SFPA was forced to suspend the tender process for a second Minna type vessel after it was found that the process was in breach of procurement rules.

Jura Type

The Jura type are offshore patrol vessels with a displacement of 2,200 tonnes. These vessels can stay on effective patrol for up to 30 days although the normal patrol length remains at 21 days.

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The first vessel of the type, Jura (II) was built at Ferguson’s Shipyard at Port Glasgow. She was launched in 2005 and entered service in March 2006. Currently the largest vessel in the fleet, she is 84 metres in length and has a gross tonnage of 2181. She has a crew of 17, a top speed of 18 knots and is used mainly for offshore enforcement tasks.

In the tendering for the next two Jura type vessels to be built, The Scottish Executive awarded the contract to a Polish shipbuilder rather than Fergusons and, as a consequence, sparked strong criticism from The Scottish National Party.

Hirta is the latest of the Jura type vessels and is the same type of ship as the Jura.  She was constructed in Remontowa Shipyard, Poland, launched on 17 August 2007 and joined the fleet in May 2008. She is 84 metres in length, has a gross tonnage of 2,181, a crew of 17, a top speed of 18 knots and is used mainly for offshore enforcement tasks.

Aerial Surveillance

The SFPA also have two Reims Vigilant F-406 surveillance aircraft, based at Inverness Airport. The aircraft are operated by Highland Airways under a five-year long contract. Highland Airways, was founded originally as Air Alba in 1997 and they currently operate eight BAe Jetstream 31, two BAe Jetstream 41 and a single Britten-Norman Islander on their own account.

The Reims Vigilant F-406 (Caravan II) is a twin turboprop engined, fourteen-seat low wing monoplane of conventional aluminium and steel construction. A development of the Cessna 404 with two Pratt & Whitney PT-6 turboprop engines, the Reims Vigilant F-406 are similar to the pressurized Cessna 441. The aircraft first flew on 22 September 1983 and, still produced by Reims Aviation, the F-406 is aimed at passenger and small cargo transport, and civilian and military surveillance. For extra cargo capacity a cargo pod can be fitted to the belly of the aircraft. The Surmar is a new maritime surveillance version of the aircraft with extra equipment such as a 360 degree radar.

Though the two engines make it more expensive to operate than similar aircraft such as the single-engined Cessna 208 Caravan I, having two engines makes it comply with European regulations regarding commercial operations, which only allow multi-engine aircraft for commercial instrument flight.

The Reims Vigilant F-406, able to seat up to 14 passengers, would generally only be crewed by a single pilot - Length 11.89 m (39 feet 1 inch) Height 4.01 m (13 feet 2 inches) Wing area 23.48 m² (252.74 ft²) Gross weight 4,264 kg (9,360 lb)  Performance - Maximum speed 455 km/h (283 mph) Range approximately 2,200 km (1,366 miles) Service ceiling 9,144 m (30,000 ft)

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Now long out of print, Graeme Somner's 1983-published 56-page booklet, "Scottish Fishery Protection : The Story of The Vessels That Have Served The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in Scotland Since 1882" may still occasionally be found in second-hand book shops and may add additional detail to the information here which has been assembled from the internet's Wikipedia pages and information publicly available on The Scottish Fishery Protection Agency's own website at http://www.sfpa.gov.uk/

ALL AT SEA - MATTHEW RAMSAYCPO of FPV 'VIGILANT'

Carradale's Matthew Ramsay, a Chief Petty Officer with The Scottish Fishery Protection Agency, is an accomplished model maker and the pictures here, from the April 2004 issue of the SFPA's 'Network' magazine show him putting the finishing touches to his magnificent model of H.M.S. 'Cruiser', one of 103 such gun-brigs built between 1797 and 1815.

The 'Cruiser', carrying a crew of 121 men, was typical of her class, 100-feet in length and 35-feet in beam, measured 382 displacement tons, her keel was laid in February 1797 and she was launched in December 1797 [The "CRUIZER" class were armed as 18 gun 'brig-sloops' and given 2 x 6 pdr bow cannon and 16 x 32pdr carronades - In the Napoleonic period Britain built huge numbers of brig sloops of the Cruizer class (18 guns) and the Cherokee class (10 guns) - The brig rig was economical of manpower (important given Britain's chronic shortfall in trained seamen relative to the demands of the wartime fleet) and when armed with carronades (24-pounders in the Cruizers, 12-pounders in the Cherokees) they had the highest ratio of firepower to tonnage of any ships in the Royal Navy (albeit within the short range of the carronade) - Consequently the Cruizer class were often used as cheaper and more economical substitutes for frigates - During the 100 Days (Napoleon's pre-Waterloo restoration) the Cruizer class brig sloop HMS Pilot put to flight the small French frigate Legere, but this was exceptional; normally a carronade-armed brig would be at the mercy of a frigate armed with long guns, so long as the frigate manoeuvered to exploit its superiority of range - The other limitation of brig sloops vis-a-vis post ships and frigates was their relatively restricted stowage for water and provisions, which made them less suitable for long-range cruising - On the other hand, their shallower draught made them excellent raiders against coastal shipping and shore installations].

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The December 2005 edition of the SFPA's 'Network' magazine featured Matthew's model of the 'Sunshine (CN 76)', of which he wrote, "This was the first boat I crewed on at 15 years of age (a few years ago) ! I couldn’t get plans for her anywhere, which made the project a lot more difficult and at one stage I nearly gave up as I found the cutting of the frames without plans nearly impossible. However, I was determined to succeed and I am delighted with the finished product. The model created a bit of a stir at home in Carradale with favourable comments as regards the "likeness" which made the effort all the more worthwhile. "The 'Sunshine' nearly came to grief on its journey home from Grangemouth - I was carrying the model up to my car, when the wind caught her and it fell on the ground - I was frightened to look, but there was very little damage, all soon put right with glue and nails. My great grandfather, whom I’m called for, built fishing boats in his garden, at Portrigh in Carradale, up to the length of 80-odd feet and launched them sideways down a steep bank into the water. For my "swansong", I fancy trying to build the FPV 'Vigilant' before I retire, I’m giving my age away now !"

Matthew, CPO of the FPV 'Vigilant' did indeed complete the model of his own ship in rapid time and the photograph here appeared in the SFPA's 15th Anniversary celebratory editon of their 'Network' magazine, in August 2006.

Amazon Hope (I) - near San Pedro de Bellavista, Loreto (Peru)

MATTHEW RAMSAY (CPO of the FPV 'VIGILANT') RETURNS TO THE "AMAZON HOPE"

from 'The (Carradale) Antler' - 186 - March 2008

The Vine Trust Medical & Dental Project provides primary healthcare to remote communities along the Amazon River. Many of the communities in the Amazon are inaccessible by road and therefore have little or no access to healthcare provision. The Trust's medical ships, 'Amazon Hope 1' and 'Amazon Hope 2', play a crucial role in the delivery of healthcare to Amazonia - The project works closely with The Peruvian

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Ministry of Health, who provide malaria and immunisation teams and, in 2009, currently serves 126 village communities, which is aimed to grow to just over 250 by 2010 - The aim is to provide quarterly visits to communities on the Tigre, Nanay, Ampiyacu, Maranon and other rivers which will impact on chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and on dental health. In addition, the project hopes to be able to identify those in need of secondary care, such as cataract surgery and hernia repair and either arrange for this work to be carried out either on board ship or at one of the district hospitals in Iquitos.

"Last November (2007), I was given time off work (as CPO on the FPV 'Vigilant') to finish what I had started some two years earlier. After a long journey from the U.K. to the jungle city of Iquitos in Peru, we eventually arrived as a marine work party of "The Vine Trust" to assist in maintenance of the boat that I had helped to deliver across The Atlantic, the "Amazon Hope 2" - Her sister ship, "Amazon Hope 1", was being lengthened by ten metres in the local shipyard and, behind schedule for returning to her medical work, it was decided to concentrate working on her. We tore into a lot of painting, mainly assisted by some ‘street kids’ (one of which was my friend from my previous journey, Raoul).

"As well as the work on the boats we were shown the various children’s homes, the water purifying plant, the various bakeries, the Mototaxi venture and the car park below the children’s home in Lima. These were all vitally important for raising finance so that the projects are not wholly dependent on donations from The Vine Trust and Scripture Union Peru who play a huge part in this project.

"Before returning home, three of us journeyed to Machu Pitcchu, but before we flew up there, we were all deflated and wished we were back in Iquitos with the locals, such was the effect that it produced on us. Basically we felt guilty about spending money on a luxurious sight seeing trip when so many of the ‘street kids’ were living in such poverty.

"What next ? Who knows, but I am certainly smitten by the bug which makes me do this and to see the grateful, loving children showing their appreciation makes it all worthwhile".

Amazon Hope (I)

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